Folding chair



(Model.) G. A. STILES.

. FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 284,921. Patented Sept. 1l, 1883.

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GEORGE A. STILES, OF VEST GARDNER, ASSIGNOR TO VARREN HILL, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. I

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,921, dated September 11, 1883,

Application filed February 19, 1883.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known'that I, GEORGE A. Srinns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vest Gardner, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a folding chair which is capable of being easily folded into a compact form for transportation and as readily unfolded and set into position for use. Besides its compactness when folded for transportation, my arrangement is such that it will assume a rectangular shape, thus allowing them to be stacked in quantities without danger of upsetting. sideratum in the trade.

My invention consists in a chair having two pairs 'of legs whose upright portions are of equal length, either the front or rear legs being provided with arm-rests formed by bend- This is a great deing or otherwise prolonging the said legs.

These rests are so constructed thatthey will be parallel with the seat when the chair is in upright position. The legs and rests have pivotal bearings at their points of contact. The seat is pivoted to the forward round of the chair, and is provided with disconnecting adjustment with the rear legs. The back is formed entirely independent of the legs, and is pivoted to the seat at its rear edge. To support the back when the chair is in upright position I provide it with supplementary arms, connecting it to the arm-rests or legs. These supplementary arms are attached to the back and rests with sufficient tightness to hold the chair in the position given it when folded up.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective viewof my improved folding chair in position andY ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same folded up and ready for transportation. Fig. 3 is a partial view of the seat, showing the locking mechanism in detail.

In the drawings, A represents the seat, and

(Model.)

A the back pivoted thereto. The legs a a a a are of equal length and extend above the seat, the forward legs, a and a, being=contin ued in a rigid pieceto form the arm-rests r r. These arm-rests r 1" are parallel with the seat. The rearlegs are pivoted-to the end of these arms, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The seat A rests upon the rod b in front, and at the rear end is provided with pins p, adapted to engage with catches c of the legs. These pins and catches are placed on both sides of the chair, and on one side there is a dropping lug vor dog, d, as shown in Fig. 3, in locking position, and in dotted lines raised. The construction of this dog is such that when the pins p are placed in the catches c and the said dog dropped in position it will hold the pin in place by one projection and bear downwardly on the catch by another. By this means the chair will retain a perfectly-rigid position as long as may be desired, and it cannot possibly be changed fromthis position eX- cept by raising the dog, thereby liberatingthe pins of the seat. When this is done, however, the seat will drop, andthe back hinged thereto will also descend and the chair will assume the appearance shown in Fig. 2.

Supplementary metallicarms e c connect the arms to the back, and form, when the chair is in position, a rigid and substantial stay for the latter.

It will be seen that when the pins are disengaged from the catches and the seat and the back lowered they will fold upon each other and drop between the legs and the frame or connecting-rods.

The arrangement of the legs and the other parts of the chair are such that when it is folded up, as described, the supplementary arms, connecting-rods, and arm-,rests will hold the legs in a fixed position and in such a way as to permit of the back and seat lying between said arm-rests and the legs to assume a position parallel to each other. In this way it will take, when folded, a very compact form.

I am aware that folding chairs have heretofore been constructed with legs having upright portions of equal length and having the back pivoted to the seat. I am also aware that folding chairs have been made with suitable IOO locking and disconnecting devices, and Itherefore do not broadly claim these features, but limit myself to the construction I have shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A'chair having two pairs of legs whose upright portions are of equal length, and which are adapted to lie parallel with each other when the chair is folded, one of the pairs being bent or otherwise prolonged into arm-rests formed parallel with the seat, said legs and rests having pivotal connection at their points of contact, substantially as described.

2. A folding chair having two pairs of legs whose upright portions are of equal length,

' the front -legs being bent back to form armrests, as described, said rests and the rear legs having pivotal connection at their points of contact, in combination with a back `formed independent of the legs, and provided with connecting supplementary arms adapted to hold the frame ina compact form when folded.

A, having the pins p, the legs 3. A folding chair having a seat and back pivoted to each other, the said back being formed independent of the legs, and the seat having pivotal bearings on the front legs and 'disconnecting attachment with the rear legs,

whereby the back and seat will fold upon each other and between the legs and their connecting-rods when the chair is folded, substantially as set forth.

4. In a folding chair, as described, the seat a/ a, having the catches c, and the dropping lug or dog d, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A folding chair having the legsaa/ a cd, rests 1' i", seat A, pvoted to the forward legs, and having disconnecting adjustment with the rear legs, in combination with the back A, pivoted to said seat, and supplementary arms e e, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

GEORGE A. STILES.

Vitnesses:

H. L. UrHAM, T. P. PERLEY. 

